Richasd hoffmann



@Him ism @anni @Him RIGHA RD HOFFMANN, 0F NEW YORK,` N. Y.

l Letters Patent No. 68,627, dated September 10, 186i'.

IMPRQVED anemie-CHAIR,

'lO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONOERN: l

Be it known that I, RICHARD HOFFMANN, of 336 Eighth avenue, inthe city, county, and State of New York,`

have invented a new` and useful improvement in Rocking-Cliairs and I de'hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', which will enable those skilled inthe art to make and usc the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing, forming part of this spccieation, in which drawing- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of this invention. i I

.Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. 4

This invention consists in a rocking-chair, the frame of which is' composed eil two side pieces, which are made of thin and elastic strips of metal or wood, or other suitable material, and united together by crossbnrs, which can be readily removed, if desired, in such a manner that a chair is obtained, which is very comfortable and easy to sit in, and which can be easily packed up in a comparatively small compass for transportation. The side pieces of the frame are so constructed that each runner with its arm-picce is formed out of one strip, which is curved, and secured to another strip forming `one-halt` of' the back framennd one of the hind legs ot' the ena-1r, and suitable stops are secured in the runncrsiu front 'and rear, whereby the chair is prevented from being tipped over in either direction. Said stops consist of buttons secured to springs, whereby the same are rendered yielding;` and hard blows or shocks in stopping the motions of the chair are avoided. The `back of the chair is formed of a piece of stout cloth, canvas, leather, or other iexible material, which extends from under the seat up to the tcp' cross-bar, and which is so adjusted that it forms a comfortable curve to `support the person sitting in the chair, and that the centre of gravity will bc in the proper relation to theirunners.

A represents a roehingchair,the frame of which is composed oftwo side pieces B These side pieces are formed each of two flat strips b b c c of elastic sheet meta-l, or of tough wood, or other suitableclastc material, or they may be made of cast iron, and provided with ribs for the purpose of strengtlnand they arc curved in such a manner that the strips be form the runners land arm-pieces, .and the strips b o the sides of the back frame and the hind legs, and these latter strips arc curved in such a manner that they support theformcr,`

and that a chair-frame is obtained which is lightand elastic in all its parts. '.lhe two side; pieces of the frame are united by cross-bars a c a?, which are provided with nuts at one or both ends, so that by taking o said nuts the rods can readily be removed `whenever it may be desired to pack up the' chair in a small compass for transportation or other purposes. The cross-bars a have their bearings in arched strips d, which are secured between thcstrips Z Z1 and c c', as clearly shown in the drawings, and these cross-bars serve to support thc seat D, which is curved in the proper manner, and `which is so arranged that it can be turned up for the purpose of cleaning the chair. The back E is formed of a piece of stout cloth, canvas, leather, orother suitable` flexible material, which extends from under the scat D up to thc top cross-bar al, and which is so adjusted that it sags down and forms a comfortable support for the person sitting in the chair. This llexihlc back can also be readily adjusted by unfastening one of its ends and giving to it more or less slack, and one end may be Secured to a rod, which inay be sc adjusted that by turning ,the saine the back receives more or less slack, and by these means said back can becasily broughtin such a position that the centre of gravity of the person sitting' in the chair is thrown in the proper relation towards the runners, a pointl which is ofthe greatest importance in a goodV roeking-chair, for, if the cent1-.e of gravity is too far in front the person sitting on the chair is liable to slide down from the seat, and if the centre of gravity is too l'ar in theoricar the chair lia-blc to tip over behind, or at least to assume an uncomfortable position.V At or near the ends ofthe rockers of my chair are secured thc stops e, which are composed of buttons, which are so placed that they confine the oscillating motion of the chair within certain limits, and prevent the chair being tipped over accidentally, either backward or forward. The but-tons e pass through holes in the rockers, and they are secured to the loose ends of springs f, which are1 fastened to the inner surfaces of the rockers, and which render the stops yielding, so that` in case 'one of them strikes the floor, a hard blow or shoek'is avoided, and the rocking motionof the chair is stopped' gradually By these means a chair is obtained which is light, cheap, very comfortable, and easily packed for transportation.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Constructing the side frames ot`a rockngchair of' elastic strips b b c c', substantially as and for the purposes set forth. f

2. The combination of removable cross-bars a a a2 with the einst-ie' side pieces B C of a rocking-chair, `substontaiiy as mici for the purpose described.

The exb'le beek E, in combination with the seat D, top orossbar a", and sido pecesB C, constructed and oper'ating substantially :is and for the purpose set forth.

4. The yielding stops e, in combination with the runners of :L making-'choir constructed and operating substant-i'aiiy as and for the purpose described Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, Gr.` BERGg RICHARD HQFFMANN.` 

